Turn Out Blog

On Christmas Eve, four Webster, New York, firefighters were shot and two killed when a paroled felon with a prior murder conviction set them up. It’s more accurate to say they were executed with premeditated precision. Arson was used as the pretext for drawing them into the killing zone so the connection to our profession is both direct and compelling.

If our national/international fire/rescue organizations exist in part to protect us by formulating solutions, they are all asleep at the wheel on this one. A scan of web pages (IAFC, IAFF, NFFF, NVFC) reveals either complete silence or the issuing of platitudinous press releases. Pretty thin gruel under the circumstances. So much for decisive leadership.

By the way, I’m not talking about overturning the second amendment but you would think they could momentarily shrug off their collective holiday torpor and (at least) pretend to give a shit.

If “balls”, (or rather the lack of them) is the problem, they can look to NYPD’s Chief Ray Kelly for leadership inspiration. Kelly said,”I think it’s important to let the federal government know that something has got to change.” Kelly backs his tough words up with action, something fire service leadership, both labor and management, seem unable or unwilling to do. Come to think of it, we don’t even have the tough words so we are a long way from action.

NYPD’s Ray Kelly

And Chief Kelly is no simpering-pinko-liberal-lefty. He is a combat veteran and Marine who served (and led troops) in Vietnam as a Second Lieutenant.

The guy’s got balls enough to loan out. Perhaps he’ll give us some.

We are certainly in need of them.

(Credits: USA Today and NYDN)

10 Comments

At first, I winced at your use of the word “balls” and then realized that this situation calls for some shock. I did not know that the fire organizational leadership was so timid on this issue. They obviously need something to shock them into action.

Eric-What would you have them (leadership) do? What is your suggestion for a solution? How is this a predictable event? You can’t stop crazy. The balls are on the responders, not the desk jockeys. How about arming 1st responders and letting them be responsible for themselves, taking charge of their own safety, or at least giving them the option not to be a sitting duck. Making more laws won’t work, never has, never will. Criminals don’t care about rules.

You again take the fatalistic view as if NOTHING can be done to protect us. That is so weird coming from a firefighter. We aren’t hard-wired that way. This isn’t about me, it’s about leaders being leaders. Thanks for writing.

During the Newark riots in the 60′s, our department was asked to send an engine company to out.

We were advised “They are shooting at firefighters!”. Before we left our station we armed ourselves with rifles and ammo. When we heard shots fired at us we returned fire and the shooting stopped and they never shot at us again.

We at U. S. Fire Administration are trying as hard as we can to get out some important information and key points in protecting ourselves from these type incidents. Moving the federal government over a holiday week is much like motivating a turtle to speed his trip across a bust highway. Slow and frustrating.

TheHonestTruthTED2: BaggersMaybe when the Democratic Party gets back to being the party of the working man and woman and stops taking on every other cause and affliction that grabs a headline, the firefighters of the IAFF will not wear yellow shirts in public and then "go red" in the voting booth. The height of hypocrisy. Feel…
2015-03-30 02:06:28

Bill HandTravel: Kissing WhalesSounds like a great adventure Eric. That part of Mexico is much different than a Texas border town.
2015-03-28 05:05:29

Bill HandTED2: BaggersEric I am shocked that someone as intelligent as you would go for the simple race card. That is just way too easy my friend. I thought you could do better at finding some real issues with Ted other than labeling him as a racist right from the get go. I really don't like what…
2015-03-28 04:56:59

Joe KamerosTED2: BaggersThe left's heads are exploding early.....all the snow this winter has caused a lot of pent up anxiety. Hopefully you don't subscribe to MSNBC's Jamilah Lemieux, who thinks that those who listen to country music are evil racists.....just because Rafael said he likes a little country music....SMH
2015-03-28 01:02:34